Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-08-27
REFLECTIONS FROM NEW YORK.
What is Seen tn the Mirror Held up
by Cummings and Hail.

REFLECTIONS FROM NEW YORK.
What is Seen fn the Mirror Held up
by Cummings and Hail.
THE NERVOUS PEOPLE THAT NHABrT THE GREAT
C1TY-THE EAsY-GoING OLD DUTCHMEN OF NEW
AMSTERDAM AND THEIR RRSTI Ess DESCENDANTS
OLD SEWER PIPE FOR HOUSE DECORATIONS
NEW YORK, August 20.
New Workers have the reputation OF being the
most nervous people on earth A stranger is at
once impressed with this fact as he takes an ele-
waited train to go to his hotel People hustle in
and out OF the train like mad, and there is no
waiting for anybody. 1t is only by this prompti-
tude OF action that it is possible to transport half
million people day on the elevated railways Of
New York.
Wall street is the center Of New York's ner-
vousness Watch the men who frequent 1t and
you will see that they rush down the thorough
fare as II pursued by somebody. Jay Gould and
even staid old Russell Sage step along with a
springy gait, outwalking the messenger boys,
who are about the only deliberate persons seen on
the street. On the Stock Exchange every man is
constantly on the move, and it Is this desire for
perpetual action which leads members to snatch
on each others hats and engage In all manner OF
horse play, such as stuf1ing bits OF paper down
each others backs, and similar movements OF
An undignif1ed nature.
The typical Old keeper Of q hotel used to be q
man OF slow movements and great deliberation,
but there is in New York but one OF this old school,
and he Is Landlord AShman, or the Sinclair House.
Frank Allen, OF the AStOr House, Edward Vernam,
OF the Morton House, and Edward stokes, Of the
ern landlord. Mr.. Stokes is perhaps the most ner-
vous man In New York. There is a legend to the
effect that he is never known to sit still for
more than nve minutes at a time. Next to him In
the line Of nervousness is a buyer for Sweetzer,
Pembroke Co., the dry goods men. The sales
man who sells him bill OF goods must follow him
as he PAGES the floor or perhaps pursue him up
st;lrs into the upper story departments OF the
house.
ing room foreman from one OF the great newspa-
perS you will imagine that you have at last found
men VINO are not In such an eager rush as the rest
OF New Workers, but when once they have re-
turned to work every man OF them goes about his
| labors with quick, energetic movements. This is
especially true OF workers on the afternoon papers,
where time Is measured by the seconds and where
delay OF 4 minute or two in issuing an edition
may mean the loss OF the sale OF thousands OF
copies.
Mr.. MOrosini, Gould's right-hand man. is a large
gentleman OF formidable physique He lives up
tne HUDSON an hours Journey from his once on
wall street. Early every morning he rides to the
Grand Central depot at 42d street, and then walks
with quick, nervous tread from there to his Office
On Wall street, distance OF over 219 miles.
AMERICANIzED DUTCHMEN.
The old Dutchmen who were once in the majority
in New York We're men of slow movements, but
their defendants are as restless as the New York
erS of Yankee descent, and the infection seems to
have spread to the Dutchinen in the Fatherland
across the sea. Jay Gould relates how he went
not long ago. to Amsterdam to negotiate railroad
deal. He supposed that the AmSterdamcrs would
smoke and deliberate over the matter day or two
He called on the parties in interest laid the
before them, and was surprised When they con-
summated the bargain in exactly ten minutes.
The Vanderbilt boys, with the exceptiuo of the
poetic George are early rlsers, rapid walkers and
nervous in their movements. Cnauncey NJ. Depew
PUSHES into hi, Office like hurricane early In the
morning and IS constantly On the move until he
sorts where prominent New Workers take their
lunCheoIS and you will be at once impressed With
the TACT OF their nervous temperament. The
brothers or RObt. Bonner take their midday meal
daily at the Aston House. The moment they drop
into their seats ell-trained waiter PUSHES out TO
the carving table aad orders their luncheon with
the supplementary rcmark: ut Is for the MeSsrS.
Bonner; hurry IT up!7 RObt. Bonner himself Is
man OF slow movement as compared with other
New York editors Stick Il pin In him and he would
probably turn about with the calmnesS peculiar
TO the old school OF New Workers and ask what you
Gordon Bennett and he would wheel about and
Of1ef to give you battle On the spot Resort to the
same artiice with JOS Pulitzer and he would
spring up With rage, turn upon you, and probably
knock you out in u 1iffy. He Is the most nervous
or all New York journalists, and walks rapidly,
with his broad shoulders thrown well back.
EVEN MARK TWAIN AFFECTED.
Even Mark Twain, who once had the reputation
OF being slow in action, has visited New York so
often that he has caught the infection Of nervous
ness, and he has almost abandoned literature for
the more exciting pastime OF speculation. He Is
reported to be now engaged Ia one OF the most
gigantic financial enterprises OF his life. Henry
WatterSon comes 10 New York every summer to
get rest and entire relief from the cares of his
newspaper. He starts out on his vacation with
the Instruction his editors that he is not to be
bothered with the details of his Office but after he
has been in New York about fortnight his energy
gets the better OF him and he keeps private wire
from New York to the COurier-JOurnuL hot with
specials for his paper.
Mr.. Arkell, publisher OF Judge is short, firmly
h1n6lQ a in ujal-,
tenceS and has the faculty OF cOnversing with en-
ergetic Mr.. Gillian, his head artist. and caller in
the same breath.
The best field for the study Of the proverbial
nervousness OF New York Is Broadway Watch a
stranger attempt TO cross the thOrOughfare and
you viii see him hesitate wait "a long time and
finllly try to crowded street with his ac-
cuStOmed deliberate ait. A New Yorker on the
other hand, makes dive into the surging process
sion OF vehicles darts almost under the feet OF an
up-going team, dasheS in front OF down-bound
Car, escapes being run over by a hairs breadth
and is across the street in a jiffy. Observe the
drivers OF trucks and street cars on Broadway and
youwill see that they are affected with the same
restless spirit. Generally speaking it is impossi-
BILE to accelerate the tide OF travel on crowded
Broadway street, but the truck drivers veil at
drivers ahead OF them, urge them to hurry on
and curse In manner That would fill the heart of
canal boatlnan With envy. The Street-car drivers
keep ohrill whistles in their mouths aud blow
them with constant screech OF warning to
drivers ahead OF them to hurry up.
All this intense NERVOUSNESS seems to have af-
fected the reflective literary OF the e;ropo-
lis and you will scarcely find one who Is not spare
in build and restless in movement This was nar
tcular noticeable at The reception some weeks ago
TO Walt Whitman, at which about the only per-
lsfty eom 6@ and restIul was Walt
H.
MODERN ABSURDITIEs IN HOUSE DECORATIONS
The abSurdiJleo or home decoration are appar-
emily limitless. / called the other day on an ac-
quaintance, who is invariably devoted follower